Unemployment rate holds steady, job growth continues

UPDATED 2:55 PM CDT Aug 15, 2013

MADISON, Wis. -

Wisconsin's unemployment rate is steady at 6.8 percent for July, the same as it was in June.

The state Department of Workforce Development released the latest figures on Thursday, but also downplayed the results as being unpredictable given that they're based on a survey of just 3.6 percent of employers.

Gov. Scott Walker's administration prefers to rely on quarterly data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that is based on a survey of nearly every Wisconsin employer.

Walker released the latest quarterly figures for that Thursday that showed more than 24,000 private sector jobs were added between March 2012 and March 2013.

The monthly data shows that 1,800 private sector jobs were added in July.

The state unemployment rate was below the national rate of 7.4 percent.

Walker promised during his 2010 election campaign to create 250,000 jobs in four years.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in June that the state gained 62,000 private-sector jobs during the first two years of Walker's term.

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